Dispatches From the Peninsula by Chris Tharp

Firstly, I need to apologize to Chris. I should have posted this review weeks ago when I finished his book but somehow I messed up and forgot to post. Menopause brain once again rears it's ugly head. (I don't know what I'm going to blame when this season of my life moves to the next but for now - that's my story and I'm sticking to it.)

There are lots of 20-somethings who head off to the great unknown and try their hand at teaching English in various areas of Asia. I have family members who have taken this path and I'm sure most of you at least know of the trend. Never had I heard, however, of one of these young adults teaching in South Korea. It's not even a country that registered on my radar for this kind of activity. But South Korea is where Chris Tharp ended up. I loved the beginning of the book. We start out exactly where Chris started out in Korea. We arrive with him and, if you are anything like me, share the same knowledge base of the country and what to expect. It all seems a little overwhelming at first as we (Chris + the reader) meet new people and a new culture and try to keep it all straight.

In 'Dispatches from the Peninsula: Six Years in South Korea', the reader is introduced to this amazing culture through the eyes of an outsider. Chris explains what he sees, feels, learns, eats, etc. from the vantage point of an uninitiated citizen. The experiences for Chris start out new and wonderful and confusing just as they would be to the reader were he there. And we progress along with Chris to a point where it all becomes 'normal'. It is a journey of fun and not-so-fun experiences and not a few laughs.

Chris Tharp does an excellent job of describing his temporary country: the friends he makes, the people he meets and the experiences he has while there. The narrative is vivid and inspiring. Reading this memoir has given me a new place to add to my 'to visit' list. I fell in love with the country and the people as I read.

While I found the book to be interesting and easy  to read, it needs to be said that it does read like a memoir and not like a novel. The writing flows well and the editing is fabulous but I did not ever get to the point where I thought I was reading fiction. This is not a criticism, just information. 'Dispatches from the Peninsula' reads like what it is. I appreciated that. It kept the reading real for me. The only time I wished the book were more novel-like was at the ending. It felt abrupt. The experience and the book were just over. I know I can't have it both ways but I was left feeling just slightly not done with the book even though the book was done with me.

I know I've read a quote somewhere about books allowing the reader to travel the world, and beyond, while sitting in his own armchair (or something like that). 'Dispatches from the Peninsula: Six Years in South Korea' did that for me. I felt literally transported to a fantastic, new country and then put the book down and realized I was still comfortably settled in my own living room. It was a good feeling.

Train to Nowhere: Inside an Immigrant Death Investigation

OK - back to non-fiction. In 2002, a grain elevator employee in Denison, Iowa opened a grain hopper (train car) for a cursory check and discovered the skeletonized remains of eleven undocumented immigrants.

Colleen Bradford Krantz does an excellent job of making these victims come back to life. She tells their story with sensitivity and impartiality and leaves the reader to understand all sides of the ongoing issues of undocumented immigrants in the USA. The horror of the death of these eleven people is not sensationalized but the stark portrayal of their experience makes an indelible mark on the readers mind (and on my soul). Ms Krantz expands her readers' understanding of life outside of our first world complacency and we are forced to see the reality of life in the third world.

There were times when reading that I did skip over the statistics to get back to the story but that didn't take away from the story, and I know there are lots of people out there who like statistics. I also found the pictures to be very dark - as in colour not content. But they were a nice addition none the less.

As a bonus, especially for those that like to compare books and movies, there is a documentary based on the book. The DVD can be found at www.TrainToNowhere.com.

A Taste:

Byron explained that he was in Texas, and needed money to pay his smugglers. Norma wrote down a phone number, promising that she would have Eliseo call back. It was the last time she would talk to Byron. (pg 59)

The Brothers Krimm

There has been a long string of non-fiction here lately and today that trend continues. (I promise more fiction after this one). I'm having a hard time categorizing 'The Brothers Krimm' by Cecile Wehrman. It's not really what I would call true crime. It is about a serial bank robber and his crimes. But it is more about how four survivors of child sexual abuse took different paths despite their experiences and how that all worked out.

It all starts when a bank robber, sexual predator, and all around bad guy, on the run in very rural North Dakota ends up killing himself, practically in the author's backyard. As a journalist, she begins to investigate and finds herself more and more drawn into the story and the Krimm family. The book takes shape more as a revealing expose into how Cecile Wehrman goes about delving into the life and crimes of Jimmy Krimm. Her investigation brings to light a family with shared experiences of sexual abuse. Cecile relies partly on her own experiences as a child sexual abuse survivor to understand the dynamics involved.

There is no way I can say I enjoyed this book. The subject matter doesn't lend itself to enjoyment per se. What I can say is that the book is well written and edited and honest in its content. There were times that the subject matter was simply too graphic for me. (actually the cover scared me witless from time to time when I studied it) While I understand the need to bring to light the realities of abuse, be warned that the realities can be stark and alarming. Interesting though, for sure. I found myself as intrigued as Ms Wehrman as to how different people can experience similar trauma and go forward on entirely different paths.

A Taste:

Even as Harry was taking steps to form a conventional, law-abiding life, he was witness to or had knowledge of most of the crimes Jimmy committed while he was still at home in Taylor. Though Charlene knew nothing of the cromes he was committing against his brother, she started becoming aware of Jimmy's bent for theft. (pg 86)

Music: Healing and Harmony by Sally Fletcher

Non-fiction is not my genre of choice. Music, however is a big part of my life. Growing up my parents turned music on when they got up in the morning and it stayed on until they went to bed. All four of us children had music lessons in a variety of instruments and Christmas Eve would find us jammin' the Christmas carols. Now I enjoy listening to my kids sing and play. Music makes me happy. And now I have a better idea of why.

Sally Fletcher has written an interesting and easily read little book that explains some of the applications, theories and studies that relate to how music can influence our moods, minds and health. The book reads as if the reader were sitting in a room with the author discussing how music might be better utilized in life. Sure we've always known music is fun but did you know that the type of music you listen to can help you learn? heal? relax?

The facts and figures in the book are pulled together with experience and history which keeps the book from reading like a lecture. The author has also broken the subject into thirteen sections and added musical quotes which helps with readability. After reading the book, there were a ton of musical experiments I wanted to try at home. I was motivated and enlightened by the content of Ms Fletcher's book.

If you are not fond of a litany of study results, you might want to skip reading 'Music: Healing and Harmony' (I happen to love study results) But that's about all the negative I can come up with. If this subject interests you at all, you should find this book interesting, readable and short enough to hold your attention.

A Taste:

It isn't unusual for people with amnesia to remember the words and melody to a song when it's played. When the music stops, they will return to their previous state, not remembering their name, the words to a song or even where they are. (pg 60)

in the rearview mirror by Lee Livingston

Do you ever read a book and think 'this would make a fantastic movie'? I can't even count how many times I thought that as I read 'in the rearview mirror' by Lee Livingston. I kept forgetting it was a memoir. No one should have that much fun. It's 1961 and Lee and Dango (if you want to know about the nickname, read the book) need to get from California to Cleveland - without a car (they broke it). And really, when the choice is Greyhound bus or hitchhike and the choosers are 18 year old boys ... well, I bet you can guess the answer to that one.

The fun they have, the situations they find themselves in, the people they meet are all interesting, and very often laugh out loud funny, but this book is about so much more than that. It is about a friendship that defines the word and it is about the innocence of 18 years old in 1961 and it is about growing up and coming of age.

There was a lot of jumping around during the story as the author tried to explain past events and how they related to the big road trip. I enjoyed the vignettes but wished there had been another way to include this info. I'm not a big fan of flashbacks. Luckily, the book was good enough, well written enough, to pull me through the flashbacks.

Don't make the mistake of thinking this book will only appeal to older readers because of the time frame. It will appeal to older readers who remember the 60's. It will also appeal to anyone who is, or has been 18. I'd be a little reluctant to let my not yet 18 year olds read it, though, not for the content but because they may end up with a lot of ideas I'd rather they not follow through with.

Probably the best thing I can say about Lee Livingston's adventures is that, for the first time ever, I was grateful for the four hours I was stuck at the car dealership while they worked on my car because it gave me uninterrupted time to finish this fabulous book.

Just a note - I'm giving it a 4/5 for romance not because of any male/female romance but because of the romance of hitchhiking across the country as a teenager with more moxy than brains.

/5      

Character Development          5

Editing                                     5

Sex                                          2

Violence                                  0

Romance                                 4

Readability/Flow                    5

Peace at the Edge of Uncertainty by Neil Hanson and Giveaway

There is a sentence on the back of this little book that, I think, best sums up the content therein. It reads:

 'Explore the strength of "uncertainty" as a gift through which the magic of Wisdom and Truth might enter our life.'

In the form of a letter addressed "Dear Dad", Neil Hanson allows us into some very personal and very spiritual moments as he 'journeys to the edge of death with his father', and remains behind as his father carries on over that edge.

What impressed me most about this book was Mr. Hanson's ability to lay bare some very personal emotions and experiences without apology. As I read, I wondered to myself why it was so easy for me to simply accept the experiences I was reading about. The conclusion I reached was that in not asking me to believe what he was saying, Neil Hanson allowed me to see the truth in what he experienced. He writes in a way that is open and non-judgemental which allows the reader to be the same.

The experiences Neil went through as his father lay in the ICU dying, and the realizations he came to over the following fifteen years, make for an intense spiritual story. More than that, however, they open the door to the exploration of long held beliefs as well as new spiritual ideas.

In exploring the events of, and surrounding, his father's death, the author manages to explore the spiritual without spilling over into the religious. He does this by not spelling out the name of Deity but instead using 'G-d' and terms such as 'Spirit'; 'Presence'; 'Something Divine', and by alternating between male and female pronouns when writing about this Power. Also, in the 'Notes to the Reader' at the beginning of the book the reader is invited to:

'Make no assumptions or pre-judgements about what I might mean by the word, and instead, paint the word with your own beliefs.' 

This inspirational treatise has given me a lot to think about and has refocused my spiritual lens. It is a book I know I will return to and reread as I travel my own path of new experiences and uncertainties. Definitely one I would recommend to anyone with a spiritual - not just Christian - bent.

How's this for the most amazing givaway? The very generous Neil Hanson is offering an e-copy to everyone who comments with an e-mail address. That's right - everyone who comments with an email address!! Because he is being so very generous, the time frame is short. The giveaway closes Sunday, July 24.

The Drummer Drives! Everybody Else Rides by Barbara Brabec

When Babara Brabec contacted me about reviewing 'The Drummer Drives' I responded that her book sounded like a treasure. Having read it, that opinion stands. Whether the nature of the book appeals to you or not, the fact remains that it is a lovely memoir - both of Harry Brabec and of the history of the music industry in Chicago and elsewhere in the USA.

Harry Brabec was heavily involved in the music world of Chicago through the 1950's, 60's and beyond. His wife of 44 years and widow of five, has put together this collection of stories, memories, anecdotes and life from scrapbooks and journals. I have read a few memoirs and most, no matter how well written, will really only find an audience within the family of origin. When it comes down to it, most lives are strikingly similar: filled with happiness, struggle, family, and the business of just living. To create a memoir that will be of interest outside of the original family, there has to be an element of general interest. In Brabec's book - in Harry's life - that interest comes in the form of backstage peeks into the lives and personalities of entertainers of the period, and the workings of politics within the music scene in Chicago at the time.

Harry and Barbara had their ups and downs but their optimistic, positive attitudes pervade the book. Harry's humour and Barbara's dedication come through in each page. Each chapter is headed with a quote or joke, many from Harry himself, that set the mood for the stories and snippets that follow. Two of my favorites: I'm too old to pimp, and too young to die, so I'm just gon' keep playin'. - Clark Terry, world class trumpeter; Getting older isn't so bad; it's trying to maintain your oldness that wears you down. - Harry Brabec

Barbara also includes little side notes (always one for a pun - I loved the idea of 'notes' in a musical memoir). There are historical side notes, musical side notes, personal side notes, all designed to keep the reader in the loop. There is also a website companion to the book, www.theDrummerDrives.com,  where readers can go for more information, to hear and download music and video clips, see pictures and read articles and programs that relate to the book and Harry's life in music.

If the reader has any interest in the entertainment industry of the time, and especially in Big Band era music, many of the names of people, and of places, will be familiar. You will enjoy Barbara's straight forward, easy writing style. If you have no interest in the entertainment industry of the time, you might want to find another book.

Wisdom of Our Fathers: Lessons and Letters from Daughters and Sons by Tim Russert

If ever there was a book to answer the question 'Who's your Daddy?', this is it. 

After writing his book 'Big Russ & Me', Tim Russert began to receive letters from sons and daughters who wanted to tell him about their fathers. From this batch of letters, Mr. Russert chose and compiled hundreds and organized them into this book. He sorted the letters into twenty chapters and began each chapter with a short introduction from his own experiences.

Occasionally, I enjoy reading compilations like this. Lots of short, sweet comments from a variety of people in varying situations. It was good to read about all these fantastic Dads. We hear so much about bad parenting and absent fathers in current events, how nice to hear children lauding their fathers. Some made me laugh and some brought tears to my eyes. Some reminded me of my own Dad and others were telling of experiences that were totally foreign to me. Still they were all interesting.

What I did start skipping over after a couple of chapters, was the commentary of the author. He also subtitled each submission with his own thoughts. It felt like he was trying to pull the attention away from the letter writer and onto himself. If I had wanted to read about his experiences either with his father or as a father, I would have read his other book. I wanted to hear what the letter writers had to say, in their own words and draw my own conclusions.

'Wisdom of Our Fathers' was a quick, fun book that allowed me to focus on my own Dad and our relationship, which is the purpose of this week leading up to Father's Day. I enjoyed it.

The Dressmaker of Khair Khana by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon

For all of you who, like me, tend to avoid non-fiction thinking it dry and sleep inducing, I say: READ 'The Dressmaker of Khair Khana'!! You will have to remind yourself that what you are reading really happened; these amazing women really exist; there is an Afghanistan that we don't see on the news. The front cover reads: 'Five sisters, one remarkable family and the woman who risked everything to keep them safe'. I do take issue with that statement. Kamila wasn't the only one to risk everything, she just led the way. And she didn't just keep her family safe - she kept them safe and fed and did the same for so many other women and their families as well. My eyes have been opened. In every war-torn, poverty-ridden, calamity-hit country in this world, there are women working behind the scenes, without recognition, to pull their families and friends through.

As an equal opportunity blog, I have to also touch upon the men in the lives of these women. They deserve their space as well. The thing that amazed me most about this story was not the tenacity of the women in saving their families, women do that every day, although usually under more favorable circumstances. What really struck me was the support these women received from the men around them - even, eventually, from the Taliban itself.

The only 'culture shock' I suffered was in considering the actions of Kamila's parents. I felt myself wanting to judge their actions during this unreal time. It took some work to convince me that, as much as I can read and understand the words, I have no real understanding of life in Afghanistan during Taliban rule. These people understood the system and what they needed to do to survive. The parents survived, the brothers survived, the sisters, against all odds, not only survived, they thrived. And the story of how they did it makes for one of the most inspirational, feel good books I have read in a long time. 

Can chick lit be non-fiction?? Let's check the list:

• fiction that, often humourously, explores issues of modern womanhood (whatever they are) There is not a lot of humour in the story but many 'have to smile', heartwarming moments. As for the issues issue: it is non-fiction so I would say there is no question
• features young adult women who are primarily career driven Perhaps the most fascinating thing about the women in this book is how young they really are. Many of them are not yet out of their teens. Most of the others are barely out of their teens. Career driven? They had to create a career that would sustain their families and could be done without the women ever being seen working. Or in public alone. Or in public without being covered from head to toe.
• follows protagonists that are addicted to shopping and how they look Shopping is featured  prominently in Kamila's story - but she's not the one buying (A little cryptic - read the book)
• may or may not include a romantic plot line There is no romantic love plot line
• written by women for women Yes - but I wish men would read it. It would give them a whole new appreciation for the women in their lives.
• 'post-feminist' (any ideas on what that might be??) sure?

There's not much else I can say about 'The Dressmaker of Khair Khana' except this: Don't you just love the cover?

Slightly Dented Halos by L A Jackson

I am sure that L A Jackson and her family have earned their halos - and not the dented kind. It takes a special sort of angel to invite her aging in-laws to live with her. This short book covers the span of five years living with, and caring for, aging parents but it is not the sappy, self-promoting or self-pitying drivel you might expect.

Ms Jackson's writing style reminds me a lot of the late, great Erma Bombeck (am I dating myself with that statement??) There is no plot line to carry you through - no real chronology. Instead each short chapter allows us an, often humorous, peek into life in an intergenerational household.

Sometimes it is a little tricky to keep up with the timeline of events but the humour and genuine affection with which each incident is related, serve to keep the reader engaged. We learn to love Betts through her faith and poetry and Gus as he faces a life of trial and disability with determination and courage.

Make no mistake, God and faith pervade this book and the lives of this family, old and young. And God has a sense of humour. I laughed out loud more than once as I made my way through the stories of the lives lived in these five years. My heart also swelled in the bittersweet moments. Did it make me want to run out and invite my in-laws to live with my family? NO!! But it did give me a new appreciation for those angels out there that do.

***This just in: The publisher of 'Slightly Dented Halos' is very generously offering a signed copy of this e-book as a giveaway!! Great opportunity for a great e-book!
This one is for my followers - if you currently follow, or wish to click the button and become a follower, leave your name and e-mail for a chance. Enter by April 25!

Stella: Unrepentant Madam by Linda J. Eversole

What a life!! It's always interesting to try and review a work of non-fiction. Obviously the story is what it is - and in this case, what a story! I am not sure why the author chose to write about Stella: she is not particularly famous (or infamous). I would expect that her personality and lifestyle didn't differ much from other madams of the time, but her life makes for a rich and colourful read.

Linda Eversole's writing style is straight-forward and flows easily. I forgot, from time to time, that I was reading non-fiction. 'Stella' reads like a novel. The pictures interspersed throughout the story are fantastic. It's nice that the author has included these so that long (and often boring) setting and character descriptions can be avoided. After all 'a picture is worth a thousand words'.  

Non-fiction is not my favorite genre, as a rule. I often find it hard to get into the story and become distracted and side-tracked by statistics, descriptions and political explanations. The author managed to avoid these for the most part and still give the reader a good sense of the times.

I was most impressed, I think, by the portrayal of Stella as she was, warts and all. There was no attempt to downplay her faults or over play her positive traits. So often the characters of the 'wild west' are so overblown that they become less than what they were.

The biggest criticism I have of the book would have to be the ending. OK - I know, NON-fiction. The ending is what it is. But it felt like the author tried a little too hard to play on the emotions of the reader at the end of the novel. Something she had managed not to do throughout the rest of the book.

I suspect that, had I lived at the end of the 19th century (that's the 1800s, right?), I would have been Ma Ingalls ... but I would have wished to be Stella!

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Final Letters from Victims of the Holocaust selected by Reuven Dafni and Yehudit Kleiman

 I am not reviewing this book. There is nothing to say. Truly the saddest book I've ever read.

"Tens of thousands of our fellow nationals have already left the country almost barefoot and naked. Now our turn has come"   (pg 25)

"There is no escape. Tonight or at the latest tomorrow it will be our turn. At seventeen I have to face certain death."   (pg 45)

"I am just begging you to find our only child if possible and to take care of her."   (pg 67)

Letters sent to loved ones, left in churches and other buildings and tossed from the trains in the hope of someone finding them and posting them. Most are resigned, some are hopeful, all are heart wrenching. Some from Jews, some from sympathetic Gentiles, some from parents and some from sons and daughters. Only the last two or three hold any details of the atrocities perpetrated on these people, and these letters made me, literally, sick to my stomach. My 18 year old wants to read this short and incredibly powerful book and I find myself wanting to hide it from her: wanting to protect her. And still it goes on. Genocide continues in various countries throughout the world. There are no words.

To order this book from amazon click here: 
Final Letters: From Victims of the Holocaust (From the Yad Vashem Archive)